The month ahead is all about Rs...Reduce, reduce, recycle? No. Reading, writing and arithmetic? Nope. These four Rs are Running, Relay, Ragnar and Reebok.

Recently I decided that in the year ahead I would spend less time on voluntary race ambassadorships. You can read about it here. Of course I was still completely committed to helping Allison and our team Endorphriends with preparing for, and talking up Ragnar. It's honestly been so fun and totally easy since our team has already been so focused on all things Ragnar...what to pack, timing, exchange points, learning about the safety guidelines, van decorations and selecting emergency supplies of cookies and chips. I've never had a race with more things to plan and figure out than Ragnar! It truly adds a whole new element to the experience besides 'just' the racing part.

In the midst of all this preparation, Reebok Canada contacted one of our team mates about following us throughout our Ragnar journey! It just so happens that our team is jam-packed with runners who post videos, photos and blogs on social media about all things running. Combined, there were literally thousands of followers who would be hearing about the good, bad and smelly details of our race. Reebok Canada was increasing its focus on running, and by partnering with Ragnar and now team Endorphriends, we'd be able to help them get the message out to our running friends that they should seriously take the time to check out Reebok!

Several of our team members had the opportunity to attend a meeting at Reebok's fun Woodbridge head office to learn more about the company's core values, partnership with Ragnar, product details and even get a sneak peak of what's coming down the pipes for 2018! You may be like me and think of hockey when it comes to Reebok. And more recently, Crossfit. But our team had the chance to see how Reebok is making their way into the running world with some very cool products and technology (not to mention totally inspiring and breath catching commercials!). Thanks to Reebok, our team has the opportunity to try many of these products during our Ragnar training and the race itself.

One of the first things Reebok did was help team Endorphriends coordinate a few fun runs in the community to create excitement about the upcoming race. These runs that we jokingly called 'Floatruns', also gave us a chance to try out and tell others about their new running shoe called the Floatride. More about the Floatrides in a moment...

I must say that besides the social media skills and running ability of our team, we also have a lot of creativity! Within a day we'd coordinated plans for three runs in May, before the race.

Anyone is welcome to join in on these fun runs. There is a theme for each.

The first is Better Together, which is a hashtag used by Reebok. We often realize that with the inspiration and motivation of friends, we are better runners together. What else is #bettertogether? Milk and cookies...which we served after the run, held this morning! Runners were also given a special gift from Reebok!

The second run is great for anyone racing the Mississauga Marathon or the Goodlife Toronto Marathon (or any others, or none!) It's a very, very easy shake out run meant to loosen up those stiff muscles and hopefully celebrate our accomplishments of the day before. It will be held in the evening with glow bracelets distributed to runners so we have the opportunity to #lightupthenight!

The third run will be held in Ajax, where the Ragnar route will be taking us the following week. The theme of this run is Be More Human, another of the hashtags Reebok has been using. In addition to our run, we will be accepting donations of children's pyjamas and toiletries to a local emergency women's shelter. There are a limited number of gifts for runner at this run!

In all three of the fun runs you'll have an opportunity to chat with members of Team Endorphriends about the Reebok products they have / are trying including the Floatrides.

And here is what Reebok hopes to have runners drooling over. The Floatrides!

These shoes are meant to deliver comfort while allowing you to push your performance goals. These are unique looking shoes. The seamless ultraknit upper is similar to a sock in softness and comfort while still providing breathable flexibility and support. The EVA support rim provides balance in your gait. The foam base has a consistent cell structure that delivers cushinoning and responsiveness. It's the float, in Floatrides! Not only are these shoes engineered to provide balance, comfort and endurance, they are very distinctive and get a lot of looks because of their unique and eye catching appearance!

If you'd like to check out the Floatrides, you can find them at select Running Room locations (our team has seen them at Rosedale and Whitby) or online at Reebok.ca for $180.

2017 has been the year of new. Trying masters track racing. Running a relay race at Ragnar in a couple weeks. And now I can add running a trail race to the list.

Over the past couple years my friends told me repeatedly that they just knew I'd love trail running. They said the pressure of finish time was reduced. That there is no shame in walking. That the race atmosphere is casual and fun. And that the people are accepting and encouraging. I'll admit, that sounded a bit too good to be true. I promised my friend Lisa that I would not try trail racing, or even running, until she was back on her feet following an injury.

Well, today was the day.

I was up and ready to leave by 7:30. The drive to Terra Cotta was just about an hour from home. Honestly, a very nice treat on a quiet weekend morning. I arrived and was directed into the park and parking lot. As I sat in my car texting my husband to let him know I'd arrived, I watched three tiny chickadees fluttering around in the tree nearby. Past that a father and son were tossing a ball back and forth, people roamed around the open field and sponsor tents with dogs.

I quickly started finding my friends and we easily checked in for our bibs and an amazing pair of glove mittens, which were much appreciated on the chilly morning before the race! We watched the three and one kilometre kids races and got ready for our race. Mei, Lisa and I had never done a trail race, so we planned to stick with Lisa and Melly.

With a round of cheers, we were off. It wasn't long before my trail race initiation happened. It had been a rainy week and we had been warned about mud. Upon the first huge puddle of foot dee, shoe sucking mud, I decided to take the advice of the veterans and splooshed right through the middle, laughing all the way.

I quickly learned a couple things about trail racing. The idea of distance and time is entirely different on a trail. At one point I thought we must be about three kilometres along...alas, we were just past one. The terrain is just so varied and twisted compared to the visual feedback you have on the road. I felt like I was going far slower and much further in distance than I was.

The trail was a huge variety of tests for this newbie. Rocks, roots, slippery climbs and descents, a few well packed sections, boardwalks and so much mud! It was a constant topic of conversation among the runners as everyone splashed along. Yes, people were chatting, not just friends, but other runners. Joking, laughing, commenting.

Around the four kilometre mark one of the enduro runners doing two laps called out that he was approaching. I took a quick dart to the right and alas, got to experience my second initiation and wiped out. Thankfully it was on soft packed mud that was not wet or rocky. Having been warned about wipe outs, it was easy to laugh it off and keep going. We continued leapfrogging a few other girls on the last stretch onto the only paved section of the course. We ran across the field to cheers from spectators and friends.

I laughed when I turned my watch off. On a road race I'd be embarrassed and disappointed. But my goal on for this race was to learn, see and have fun. I was told that it was one of the worst trail conditions days ever, so I am proud to have achieved that on my first run and race. Post race we found friends, ate, wandered, took photos, cheered on our friends doing two laps and then enjoyed the awards ceremony. I left with muddy shoes, almond butter on my cheek, a very much wanted camp mug and a big smile on my face.

Lisa asked me soon after we finished how I liked it. But she already knew my answer. I loved it.

A box arrived at my door today with my name on it. Of course, I'm like a kid and had to open it immediately. Inside were the very new and very cool looking Reebok Floatride Run shoes!

I'll post soon as to the story behind these shoes, but for now, here's my first, right out of the box reaction to them:

They are unlike any other running shoes I've seen: the bright, spongy back segment, the minimal number of laces, the lace support system itself, the treads, the tongue being replaced by a stretchy material.

The colours are vibrant and fun. They will go with many clothing items.

These shoes look nothing like the Reeboks I received as part of my work uniform when I worked at an amusement park as a teen.

I tried them on, wondering, will they be supportive enough with fewer laces and the softer style shoe?

I always struggle with getting the tension right on new shoe laces...these immediately felt 'right.'

I love that I can move my toes around, yet the shoe still provides structure and a stable feeling.

The fit is true to size. I wear a 9 in most shoes and these are a perfect 9.

No spots dig in or feel awkward. Remarkably, when trying on one of my other shoes on one foot and a Floatride on the other, I find it hard to notice any difference. I wear a neutral shoe. The rise feels similar.

I use Superfeet inserts in all of my shoes as prescribed by a sport medicine doctor. The inserts pop into the shoe easily and fit perfectly on the shoe base.

When walking around my office, the Floatrides feel supportive, super comfortable and give a little spring to my step.

Stay tuned for more on why these bright, comfy runners are going to be gracing my feet on my next run! And if you are totally in love and want to try a pair yourself, I hear one of the few places that has them in store is the Rosedale Running Room!

On March 13, 2017 the running world lost a legend. What was incredible about Ed Whitlock were not just his Canadian and World records, but the fact that up until months before he passed away, he was still breaking them. What I also find remarkable is that those records were represented such a huge range of distances from the marathon to the master's track. Ed had just turned 86.

I feel grateful to have seen Ed in person on several occasions. The first was over a year ago when I saw him easily looping the indoor track at the Toronto Track and Field Centre. This is before I joined the Ontario Masters Athletics, and needless to say, he was definitely an inspiration to do so.

Last fall I attended the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon press conference and watched as Ed was presented with his #85 bib and snapped some photos with Eric Gillis. Later during the press conference, Ed (dressed prim-and-proper in his suit) was interviewed by a member of the media. I stood nearby listening in and then watched as he signed the large backdrop wall along with the other elite runners. The words he wrote said so much about who he was.

​My last in-person memory happened a couple days later when I stood at the STWM finish line watching for friends. The crowd began cheering wildly and the suddenly, there was Ed, crossing the finish, breaking another record--and smiling the whole way.

Jean-Paul, Melly and I wanted to do something as part of JPsTeam to honour Ed. Since Ed was known to run for hours each day in his local cemetery, we decided it would be fitting to do a memorial run next to Mount Pleasant Cemetery in midtown Toronto. We shared the invite among several run crews in the city.

At 9:00 am on Saturday, April 1st, Melly and I walked towards the Beltline trail meeting spot. As we crested the stairs, we saw a very large number of runners mingling about. We whispered to each other, "Are they here for our run?" And, alas, they were! In the end I'd say there were about 60 runners in attendance.

We waited for a few more people to arrive and then the groups started off along the trail. At the turn around point the first part of the group paused to cheer for Ed and snap a few photos before returning to the cemetery. I managed to stop and snap a few photos of some of the runners on their return.

Photo by Miles McDonald

Photo by Petja Taivassalo

Photo by Petja Taivassalo

Photo by Edison Yao

Photo by Edison Yao

The JPsTeam members wound up finishing the run together and decided to do a special little lap within the cemetery. A the end of our run, we formed a circle of about 15 runners and had a moment of silence to honour Ed.

Photos by Edison Yao

Photo by Edison Yao

Thanks so much to all the runners who joined JPsTeam for this very special event. It was a great morning and I am sure Ed would have had that big smile on his face on hearing what the running community did to honour him. ​​​